RHINELANDER - Monday night could prove to be a big night for the Rhinelander Girls Basketball team. No they were not playing. The Hodags have a new head coach.

Rhinelander Athletic Director Charlie LeHam was searching for a new coach. Last month, Mark Jacobson stepped down after one season.

LeHam recommended former Northland Pines boys coach Ryan Clark. The recommendation was given to the school board. The board met in a closed door session. That is standard with the district. Clark was also recommended for a teaching position in the district. After the closed door session, the votes were made. The board unanimously approved Clark for both positions.

Clark coached for 8 seasons at Northland Pines. After getting reinstated for one season, Clark decided to step down back in March.

RHINELANDER - Cancer survivors and supporters gathered at Ministry St. Mary's Hospital for the 10th annual Celebration of Life Thursday. The event honors those battling cancer or survivors of cancer and shows people what kinds of services the James Beck Cancer Center offers.

The center's namesake lost his life to cancer, but now others will be able to benefit from his gift to the hospital.

"With his vision and his dollars we were able to put this cancer center here in Rhinelander so patients don't have to travel to larger cities," said Director of Cancer Services Kimberly Hetland.

This year's speaker was Mike Regole, a survivor of tonsil cancer. He spoke about his experience at the center, how family and support affected his journey, and how he ran a business while having cancer.

SAYNER - A needle and thread means more to Pat Andersen than just sewing.

"I started quilting when I was 19 so it's been a passion of mine for a long time," said Pat.

Quilting gives her a community of ladies in the Northwoods.

"Sayner needs something like this, it needs something for the women to do," said Pat.

After moving to Sayner with her husband Don last spring, the two decided to buy the building that now houses Plum Lake Quilts. Pat needed somewhere to put her long arm machine and that eventually turned into a little retail business.

"I mean little and then it grew a little bit and it grew a little bit more," said Don Andersen.

MADISON - A $3 billion tax break bill for Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group is poised to pass the Wisconsin Assembly on a bipartisan vote.

Democratic state Rep. Cory Mason said during debate Thursday that he intends to vote for the bill. He is the first Democrat to publicly say he will back the measure that is being championed by Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republicans.

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - On a busy stretch of Highway 47 near Lac du Flambeau -- where hundreds of wheels spin at 55 miles-per-hour each day -- just one tire drags at a slower pace, pulled by one man: the Tire Man.

"I guess I'm the only one nutty enough to do it, I suppose," Frank Tarantino said with a laugh.

Tarantino lives in Mercer, but trains for marathons in Lac du Flambeau. He started pulling a tire on a chain a few years ago after reading about it in a fitness magazine. People often stop to take his picture.

"Little by little you run a little further, a little further," Tarantino said.

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